Building Vocabulary: Common Root Words

Author/Creation: Andrew Davis, June 2010.

Summary: Lists and defines common Greek and Latin root words.
Learning Objectives: To list common root words and their definitions. To expand vocabulary. To
increase reading comprehension.

Rootwordsprovidethebasicstructureandmeaningtowords.Englishrootwordsandtheirmeanings
arecommonlyderivedfromGreekandLatinroots.Forexample,therootsophisderivedfromtheGreek
rootsophosmeaningwise.Learningandrecognizingthesecommonrootscanhelpyoudecipher
meaning.Forexample,ifyouwereunfamiliarwiththewordsophisticatedbutknewtherootwordsoph,
youcouldgathersomesortofmeaningforthewordfromtherootmeaning,wise.

Inmanycases,knowingtherootwordwillbeenoughtohelpyoudecipherthemeaningofawordina
sentence;inothercases,youllwanttousethedictionarytounderstandthewordfully.Ineither
instance,therootanditsmeaningwillatleastgiveapartialunderstandingofamorecomplete
definition.Forinstance,sophisticatedmeansfinelyexperiencedandaware(MerriamWebsters
CollegiateDictionary,2007,p.1190).

Whatfollowsisalistofcommonrootswordsthatyoucanremembertohelpexpandyourvocabulary
andincreaseyourreadingcomprehension.Tohelpbuildyourvocabulary,youcanaddwordsthatyou
arefamiliarwith,orwordsthatyoucomeacrossasyouread,tothelastcolumnofthetable.
Root
alter

Meaning
other

ami,amic

love

amphi

ann,enni

anthrop

bothendsorallsides

year

human,man

aqua,aque

arch

water

chief,leader,ruler

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Word
alternate,alterego

amiable,amicable

amphibian,amphitheater

anniversary,annual,biennial,
perennial
anthropology,anthropomorphic,
misanthrope

aquatic,aquarium,aqueduct

archangel,monarch,archaic,
archenemy

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Root
aud

Meaning
sound

bell

biblio

bio

brev

cap

carn

ced

war

book

life

short

take,seize

meat

yield,go

chrom

color

chron

time

cogn

cord/chord

corp

crac,crat

know

cord

body

rule,ruler

cred

believe

cruc

crusta

crypt

culp

dei

demo

cross

shell

hidden

guilt

god

people

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Word
auditorium,audible,audiologist,
audiotape

belligerent,bellicose

bibliography,bibliophile

biography,autobiography,
biology,antibiotic
brief,abbreviate,brevity

capture,captivate,capacity

carnivorous

recede,secede,proceed,
intercede,concession

chromatic,monochrome,
polychrome

chronicle,chronology,
chronometer,synchronize

recognize,cognitive,incognito

harpsichord

corpus,corpse,corporal,
aristocracy,autocrat,
democracy,bureaucrat

credible,credulous,credibility,
credit,credo,incredible

crucifix,crucial

crustacean

cryptogram,cryptology,cryptic

culpable,culprit

deity,deify

demography,democracy,
epidemic

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Root
derm

Meaning
skin

dic

dox

duc,duct

duo

dynam

ego

equ

speak,say

belief,opinion

lead

two

power

self

equal

fac

make,do

fil

frater

gam

geo

threadlike

brother

marriage

earth

grad,gress

graph

step

writing,printing

gyn

woman

hemo,hema,hem

blood

holo

hydro,hydr

whole,entire

water

ject

throw

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Word
dermatology,epidermis,
hypodermic

dictate,predict,diction,indict

orthodoxy,paradox,heterodoxy

induce,deduce,seduction,
conduct,abduction
duo

dynamo,dynamics

egotist,egomania

equal,equity,equanimity,
equate,equidistant

manufacture,factory,
benefactor

filament

fraternal,fraternize

monogamy,polygamy,bigamy

geopolitical,geology,geography,
geothermal

gradual,progression,
transgression
graphology,biography,
telegraph,geography

gynecologist,androgynous,
misogyny

hemophilia,hematology,
hemoglobin

holograph
dehydrate,hydraulics,
hydroelectric,hydroplane

inject,reject,subject,projection

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Root
leg,lect

liter

loc

log

luc

magn

man

Meaning
read,choose

letter

place

word

light

large

hand

mar

mat,mater

sea

mother

meta

metri,meter

behind,between,beyond

measure

min

mit,miss

small

send

mob,mot,mov

move

mon

mor,mort

morph

warn

death

form,structure

mut

neuro

nomen,nomin

change

nerve

name

nov

new

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Word
legible,lectern,lecturer,election

literature,illiterate,literal

local,location

monologue,epilogue

lucid,elucidate

magnify,magnate,magnificent

manufacture,manual,
manuscript

marine,mariner

maternal,maternity,matriarchy,
matricide

metacognition,metaphysics

geometric,thermometer,
odometer

minority,minuscule,minute

permit,submission,mission,
emit,

mobile,automobile,motion,
promote,movie

premonition,admonition

mortal,mortician,immortality

metamorphosis,amorphous,
morphology

mutant,mutability,mutate

neurology,neurosis,neuron
nominal,nominate,
nomenclature

novel,renovate,innovation

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Root
nym,onym

Meaning
word,name

odonto

ortho

tooth

straight,correct

pac

pater

peace

father

path

feeling,suffering

ped,pod

foot

pel,puls

push

pend

hang,weigh

phon,phono

sound,voice

plan

pneum

pod

port

flat

lung

feet

carry

pot

psych

pug,pugna

quer,quis

scent,scend

schizo,schiz

power

soul,spirit,mind

fight

ask

climb

division,split

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Word
synonym,acronym,anonymous,
pseudonym

orthodontist

orthodox,orthodontist,
orthopedic

pacify,pacifist

paternal,paternity,patricide,
patriotic

sympathy,apathy,empathy,
telepathy,pathology

pedal,pedometer,centipede,
gastropod

pulsate,repulsive,impulse,
compel,propel

append,depend,pendulum,
pendant,suspend,pending

cacophony,euphony,
phonograph,telephone,

planar,plantation,plane

pneumatic,pneumonia

podiatrist,tripod

portable,transport,portage,
report

potent,omnipotent,potentate

psychology,psychic

pugnacious,pugilist

query,inquisition,

ascend,ascent

schizophrenic,schism

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Root
sci

scrib,script

sec,sect

sed,sess

sens,sent

sequ,secu

serv

simil

Meaning
know

write

cut

sit

feel,beaware

follow

serve,protect

same

siphon

sol

son

soph

spec,spic

tube

sun

sound

wisdom,knowledge

look,see

spir

spir

spond,spons

spont

stat

tang,tact

temp

ten

ter,terr

coil

breathe

promise,answerfor

byone'sownforce

stand,position

touch

time

hold

earth

theo

god,deity

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Word
scientific

manuscript,scribe,scripture

dissect,section

sedentary,session

sensible,sentient

sequence,sequel,consecutive

service,servile

similar,assimilate,simile,
facsimile

siphon

solar

sonar,resonate,unison

philosophy,sophomoric

spectacles,spectator,
inauspicious,prospect

spiral

inspire,respiration,conspire,
perspiration
respond,responsible

spontaneous

station,status

tangible,tactile

temporary,temporize

tenable,tenant

subterranean,terrain,terrestrial,
disinter

theology,polytheism,atheist

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Root
therm

trophy

uro

vac

ven,vent

ver

vert

vit

voc

Meaning
heat

nutrition,food

urine

empty

come,go

truth

turn

life

call

Word
thermal,thermos,thermometer

atrophy

urologist

vacuum,vacuous,vacant

intervene,convene,contravene

veracity,verify,verity

introvert,irreversible,vertigo

vital,revitalize,vitamin

revoke,invocation,vocal,
evocative,convocation

zoo,zoology,zoolatry

zoo
animal

Nowthatyourefamiliarwithcommonrootwords,werecommendthatyoucontinuewiththehandouts
BuildingVocabulary:CommonPrefixesandBuildingVocabulary:CommonSuffixes.

Also,thehandoutsandUnderstandingDictionaryEntriesandUsingtheDictionary:WordOriginswill
helpyouinbuildingyourvocabularybyshowingyouhowtouseadictionaryandhowtouseawords
origintodevelopabasicunderstandingofaword.

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(361) 570-4288